Salford

Salford's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 230,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Salford increased by 8.3%, from about 216,000 to 234,000.

The addition of almost 18,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the North West and increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Salford was home to, on average, 17 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Salford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Salford decreased by one year, from 36 to 35 years.

This multi-cultural area had a lower average age than the North West and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 11,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 10 and 19 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 17% of people in Salford are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Salford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Salford

Salford saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (43%) people aged 16 and over in Salford said they were single, compared with 35% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 43% to 37%.

Across the region, only Liverpool saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 42% to 50%).

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 30% to 36%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Salford, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.5% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (36%) households had only one person, compared with 37% in 2001. The percentage of households in Salford which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 29% to 25%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North West. The improvement brought health in Salford close to the national average 9.9% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Salford increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Salford, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

Salford saw the North West's second-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.2%) households in Salford had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child remained close to 28%.

Across the region, only Eden saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 10% to 9.3%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Salford

Salford saw the North West's joint third-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability, alongside Preston. The largest fall was seen in Barrow-in-Furness

In 2011, just over 1 in 18 (5.7%) in Salford reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.4% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.0% to 4.4%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Salford that rented privately increased from 8.8% to 19% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households lived in social housing, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage of Salford households that owned their home decreased from 56% to 50%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Salford increased by 9.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Salford, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

Salford saw the North West's third-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.6%) in Salford said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 13% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 65% to 78%.

Across the region, only Manchester (from 13% to 7.1%) and Liverpool (from 14% to 8.8%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the North West saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 11% to 6.8%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Salford decreased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Salford, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Salford residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.6% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, 1.6% of reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Salford remained close to 2.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Salford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Salford

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 24% said they had no religion. An increase from 12% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Salford.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Salford that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 170,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 18,000 to about 14,000 (from 8.1% to 6.2%).

Just under 7,700 people (2.4%) said they were Jewish, up from just under 5,200 in 2001 (3.3%).

The population without a religion in Salford increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Salford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Salford

In 2011, 90% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 96% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Salford.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Salford from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 4,200 in 2001 to just over 9,400 in 2011 (from 1.9% to 4.0%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 1,300 to about 6,500 (from 0.6% to 2.8%).

About 4,600 people (1.0%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 2,100 in 2001 (2.0%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Salford decreased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Salford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

The percentage of Salford residents that were studying increased from 3.0% to 4.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in two (52%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage of Salford residents that were unemployed increased from 3.8% to 5.2%.

The proportion of students increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Salford increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Salford, the North West and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Salford working less than 16 hours increased from 1.7% to 3.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 9.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Salford increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Salford, the North West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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